El Paso, TX vs San Antonio, TX

El Paso is moderately more affordable than San Antonio, with a 13.2% lower cost of living index. El Paso scores 77 compared to 89 for San Antonio, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of San Antonio can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in El Paso is $1,041/month compared to $1,258/month in San Antonio — a 17% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: El Paso is more affordable at $171,700 median vs $219,700.

Median household income in El Paso is $58,734 compared to $62,917 in San Antonio (-6.6%). The higher salaries in San Antonio partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of El Paso spend roughly 21.3% of their income on rent, less than the 24% in San Antonio.